i am cautiously optimistic about the economy. it seems as if, despite the unemployment, despite the debt, that consumers are spending, and we are enjoying the same level of success that we've enjoyed the last 12 months in the u.s. business. having said that, i think one has to be incredibly concerned about the fragile nature of western europe, what's happening in cyprus, and other geopolitical issues that ultimately affect the united states. >> what about the minimum wage in this country, howard? is $7.25 enough. lots of pushes to take that up to $9, as president obama has talked about. the average starbucks barista, according to glassdoor website, makes $8.78 an hour. >> well, that's a little misleading, but i'll come back to that. you know, i think the minimum wage issue is a double-edged sword. and what i would not want to see is the minimum wage go up and as a result of that, employers starting to hire less people or cutting people's hours. and you have to be very careful of the unintended consequences. on balance, i am a sup